Nikon D5300 versus Panasonic G7

The Nikon D5300 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively,
in October 2013 and May 2015. The D5300 is a DSLR, while the G7 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D5300) and a Four Thirds (G7) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 24 megapixel, whereas the Panasonic provides 15.8 MP. Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their size, their sensors, their features, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Nikon D5300 vs Panasonic G7

The physical size and weight of the Nikon D5300 and the Panasonic G7 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter. You can also toggle the display to switch to a percentage comparison if you prefer that the measures are being expressed in relative terms (in this case, the camera on the left – the D5300 – represents the basis or 100 percent across all the size and weight measures).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Panasonic G7 is notably smaller (12 percent) than the Nikon D5300. Moreover, the G7 is markedly lighter (15 percent) than the D5300. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the D5300 nor the G7 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist.
You can find an overview of optics for the two cameras in the Nikon Lens Catalog (D5300) and the Micro Four Thirds Lens Catalog (G7). Mirrorless cameras, such as the G7, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, just select a new right or left
comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and
choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

The camera’s price is obviously a critical decision-making factor. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The G7 was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 19 percent) than the D5300, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison: Nikon D5300 vs Panasonic G7

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D5300 features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic G7
a Four Thirds sensor. The sensor area in the G7 is 39 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 2.0. The sensor in the D5300 has a native 3:2 aspect ratio, while the one in the G7 offers a 4:3 aspect.

With 24MP, the D5300 offers a higher
resolution than the G7 (15.8MP), but the D5300 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
3.91μm versus 3.77μm for the G7) due to its larger sensor. However, the G7 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 7 months) than the D5300, and its sensor
might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the D5300 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the G7 provides a better video resolution than the D5300. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Nikon is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison: Nikon D5300 vs Panasonic G7

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the G7 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the D5300 has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D5300, the Panasonic G7, and comparable cameras. If you need more detail on the specs, you can find comprehensive listings, for example, in the dpreview camera hub.

The reported shutter speed and shutter burst refer to the use of the mechanical shutter. In addition, the G7 features
an electronic shutter, which makes silent shooting and higher burst speeds possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (flickering).

Both the D5300 and the G7 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used
on eBay. The D5300 was replaced by the Nikon D5500, while the G7 was followed by the Panasonic G85.

Review summary: Nikon D5300 vs Panasonic G7

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D5300 or the Panasonic G7 – has the upper hand? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.

More compact: Is smaller (125x86mm vs 125x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.

Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 70g or 15 percent) and is thus easier to take along.

More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.

More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (19 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 7 months) more recently.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G7 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera.

D5300 07:11 G7

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the D5300 and the G7 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is why expert reviews are important. The table below summarizes the assessments of some of the best known camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, photographyblog). You can find the full text of the reviews by clicking on the site logo in the table header.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

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